There are tons of tests done by a variety of supposedly "impartial" reviewers and probably the most impartial is guysoflidar. The problem is some of these reviewers still might have personal bias. If you want the absolute best detector, get both a V1 and a 9500ix and maybe one or two others, not very practical but that way your covered. It has been my experience, and I have been using detectors constantly since the late 80s, that you will get good performance if you buy any of the upper end models...you get what you pay for. It seems no detector is truely the best in every area, but most will give you enough warning to save you from a ticket MOST of the time. If your on a desolate road at night (maybe one car every 5 minutes), and the police are sitting on the side of the road with their radar off until you arrive, even the best detector isn't going to save you.

every review i read is biased over the other, is there anywhere i can get neutral arguments about both and make my own decision?

You won't go wrong either. It's a matter of what is more important:

V1: Locator Arrows (very cool)
9500ix: GPS awareness for red light cams, speed traps, false alerts. This model also has an advanced mode that will show you multiple signals. It doesn't have a numerical counter like the V1, but it can show multiple vertical bars to show multiple signals.

There are tons of tests done by a variety of supposedly "impartial" reviewers and probably the most impartial is guysoflidar. The problem is some of these reviewers still might have personal bias. If you want the absolute best detector, get both a V1 and a 9500ix and maybe one or two others, not very practical but that way your covered. It has been my experience, and I have been using detectors constantly since the late 80s, that you will get good performance if you buy any of the upper end models...you get what you pay for. It seems no detector is truely the best in every area, but most will give you enough warning to save you from a ticket MOST of the time. If your on a desolate road at night (maybe one car every 5 minutes), and the police are sitting on the side of the road with their radar off until you arrive, even the best detector isn't going to save you.

Guys of lidar no longer do any testing. Go to radardetectorforum dot org.

Run two detectors simultaneously and you run the risk of them interfering with each other. If you must do this running the V1 with a remote mount unit like the 9500ci (not the 9500ix) is better but you better test placement first. Obviously the farther away from each other the better. But then each detector has an optimum position to mount it and you probably won't be able to achieve this.

A better way to do it, and one that a few have tried and have had success is running a V1 and Bel STi-R+ together. Then get a Laser Interceptor for jamming lidar, if it's allowed in your state. The STi-R+ is a remote mount unit just like the 9500ci but without the ZR-4 laser shifters (jammers). However, the LI jammers are better than the ZR4s and the STi-R+ is better than the 9500ci as a detector, even though it is made by the same company (Escort owns Beltronics). What makes the STi-R+ better is the extra configuration and setup options that let you tailor the detector. If you have the money and want to get your geek on then this is probably the best coverage right now -- V1, STi-R+ and LI.

Guys of lidar no longer do any testing. Go to radardetectorforum dot org.

Run two detectors simultaneously and you run the risk of them interfering with each other. If you must do this running the V1 with a remote mount unit like the 9500ci (not the 9500ix) is better but you better test placement first. Obviously the farther away from each other the better. But then each detector has an optimum position to mount it and you probably won't be able to achieve this.

A better way to do it, and one that a few have tried and have had success is running a V1 and Bel STi-R+ together. Then get a Laser Interceptor for jamming lidar, if it's allowed in your state. The STi-R+ is a remote mount unit just like the 9500ci but without the ZR-4 laser shifters (jammers). However, the LI jammers are better than the ZR4s and the STi-R+ is better than the 9500ci as a detector, even though it is made by the same company (Escort owns Beltronics). What makes the STi-R+ better is the extra configuration and setup options that let you tailor the detector. If you have the money and want to get your geek on then this is probably the best coverage right now -- V1, STi-R+ and LI.

Cheers.

I had a 2 diff v1 for 12+ years. Now that VA runs spectre so V1 gets picked up by troopers. I switched to Bel STi-R + laser interceptor for both my cars and are pretty happy. Yes i miss the arrows but sti-r performance is right up there

Guys of lidar no longer do any testing. Go to radardetectorforum dot org.

Run two detectors simultaneously and you run the risk of them interfering with each other. If you must do this running the V1 with a remote mount unit like the 9500ci (not the 9500ix) is better but you better test placement first. Obviously the farther away from each other the better. But then each detector has an optimum position to mount it and you probably won't be able to achieve this.

A better way to do it, and one that a few have tried and have had success is running a V1 and Bel STi-R+ together. Then get a Laser Interceptor for jamming lidar, if it's allowed in your state. The STi-R+ is a remote mount unit just like the 9500ci but without the ZR-4 laser shifters (jammers). However, the LI jammers are better than the ZR4s and the STi-R+ is better than the 9500ci as a detector, even though it is made by the same company (Escort owns Beltronics). What makes the STi-R+ better is the extra configuration and setup options that let you tailor the detector. If you have the money and want to get your geek on then this is probably the best coverage right now -- V1, STi-R+ and LI.

I've had both the V1 and the 9500ix so I can give some insight to those who are stuck on the fence.

The V1 is alot more sensitive so I picked up KA/K a bit before the 9500ix would pick it up. The V1 also seems to pickup laser scatter alot more. I would get laser scatter atleast once a day on the V1 when on the Escort I may get it once a month. Due to the extra sensitivity on the V1 it picks up alot more false alerts, not just the grocery store's that the 9500ix picks up as well but I get alot of the newer Audi's and Porsche's on the freeway due to their new radar lane change warnings. The 9500ix does not pick those up for whatever reason. I also LOVE the arrows from the V1, they help out alot because you know where the radar is coming from. But the V1 also annoys me to no end with all the false alerts. So the biggest pro of the 9500ix in my mind is that it won't annoy you by picking up Audi's/newer car's on the freeway but then it doesn't have the arrows or added sensitivity of the V1. They both have trade offs.

The guy above be nailed it with his review. I have owned several radar detectors and have been really into radar/laser protection since I have been driving (almost 9 years now). I prefer my 9500 over the V1 as the V1 had far too many false alarms, to the point I would ignore it in situations where I shouldn't have. Personally I do not care where the signal is coming from; if my radar goes off in an area where there is nothing to interfere (easy to get used to once you get one) I am slowing down until that signal is gone. Sure arrows would be nice, but not at the expense of additional false alarms. Also, I have noticed better range in my 9500 for detecting real threats compared to th V1. There was a point before the 8500 came out that the V1 was basically king but those days are over. If you are looking for highway protection you need a laser jammer. Blinder just came out with the 905 mentioned in my signature which is the best performing jammer at the moment. Laser Inteceptor is another great brand but is much bigger in size but now that the 905 is out it has moved to 2nd place. The Escort ZR4 is probably the best "mainstream" jammer but it doesn't jam as well as the blinder or LI. 90%+ of the time Laser is shot from the front which is why I have three heads; two in the front & one in back.

FYI the 9500, top of the line Escort custom radar (9500ci) and the top of the line Bel all perform the same and have basically the same features. I have my 9500 hardwired and placed basically behind my rear view mirror sloping downwards so the display just shows below. I couldn't find a better place for the custom 9500ci and I had a 9500i so I decided to put the money saved towards the blinder. I have the blinder unit placed near my right knee when sitting in the drivers seat which is perfect for use and stealthy. My ashtray is taken by my methanol switch so that wasn't an option for the custom 9500ci but I prefer keeping my eyes forward anyway. You can't go wrong with any of these top radars including V1. The most important part is the laser jammer where the difference in performance is huge and will be the difference in getting a ticket or driving by with a smile.

If you will be purchasing ANY AT&T services online or in store could you mention that you were referred by me? My Employee Referral ID is eo4489. This would be a great help and it costs you nothing, thank you!

The guy above be nailed it with his review. I have owned several radar detectors and have been really into radar/laser protection since I have been driving (almost 9 years now). I prefer my 9500 over the V1 as the V1 had far too many false alarms, to the point I would ignore it in situations where I shouldn't have. Personally I do not care where the signal is coming from; if my radar goes off in an area where there is nothing to interfere (easy to get used to once you get one) I am slowing down until that signal is gone. Sure arrows would be nice, but not at the expense of additional false alarms. Also, I have noticed better range in my 9500 for detecting real threats compared to th V1. There was a point before the 8500 came out that the V1 was basically king but those days are over. If you are looking for highway protection you need a laser jammer. Blinder just came out with the 905 mentioned in my signature which is the best performing jammer at the moment. Laser Inteceptor is another great brand but is much bigger in size but now that the 905 is out it has moved to 2nd place. The Escort ZR4 is probably the best "mainstream" jammer but it doesn't jam as well as the blinder or LI. 90%+ of the time Laser is shot from the front which is why I have three heads; two in the front & one in back.

FYI the 9500, top of the line Escort custom radar (9500ci) and the top of the line Bel all perform the same and have basically the same features. I have my 9500 hardwired and placed basically behind my rear view mirror sloping downwards so the display just shows below. I couldn't find a better place for the custom 9500ci and I had a 9500i so I decided to put the money saved towards the blinder. I have the blinder unit placed near my right knee when sitting in the drivers seat which is perfect for use and stealthy. My ashtray is taken by my methanol switch so that wasn't an option for the custom 9500ci but I prefer keeping my eyes forward anyway. You can't go wrong with any of these top radars including V1. The most important part is the laser jammer where the difference in performance is huge and will be the difference in getting a ticket or driving by with a smile.

There are a few items in your post that need to be corrected. Escort has produced three radar detectors in the 9500 series. The 9500ci is a remote mounted custom installed radar detector that includes their ZR4 laser shifters. The 9500ci comes with many parts that need to be installed in the vehicle: 1. The radar antenna, 2. The display, 3. The control module4. The gps antenna, 5. Speaker, 6. Interface, and lastly the ZR4 shifters. The 9500ci shares it's radar antenna with the Escort Redline (a windshield mount radar detector), Beltronics STi Magnum (windshield mount), and Beltronics STiR+ (remote mount). These radar detectors are currently the most sensitive radar detectors on the market. Due to user customization settings that are currently only available for the STiR+ (but has been announced that they will be releasing the same customization settings for the Redline), the STiR+ is the most sensitive and reactive radar detector available. For most drivers in most situations the Escort 9500ci will detect most radar encounters, but the STiR+ will detect radar signals the 9500ci misses, and detect others sooner. If you drive in Texas or the Carolinas, I would not recommend the 9500ci.

The other Escort 9500 are the 9500i (windshield mount) which was discontinued and the 9500ix (windshield mount) which replaced the 9500i. The difference between the two is that the 9500i needed the user to manually lockout a false signal, whereas the 9500ix will automatically lock out a false signal after three to six encounters with the false signal. Otherwise these two radar detectors are the same. They are based on a different radar, less sensitive and less expensive radar antenna than the 9500CI.

Additionally, for maximum performance your radar detector should be mounted level. Radar antennas are highly directional, and having your radar detector angled up or down hurts its performance.

There is a problem with some of the Blinder HP-905 CPUs causing poor performance with 125 pulse per second LIDAR guns. This issue has recently been discovered, and a solution is being addressed by Blinder.

The Blinder HP905 is narrower than the Laser Interceptor, is longer than the laser Interceptor.

Looking at that test I wouldn't say either jammer worked better than the other. They both performed very well but the lack of testing on 3 guns for the LI? Sure the LI does better on some guns...as does the Blinder. The LI heads are much bigger OVERALL. I don't know anyone that would say otherwise... I'll try to find the links on the forum I was reading some time ago when I ordered the Blinder which has additional testing. I'm not familiar with the problem mentioned with the 905 so I can't really comment there.

Regaring the radar information, I probably should have posted that their performance is SIMILAR (I guess that's the only thing that needs to be corrected). I said they basically had the same features...pressing a button to input a false signal and automatically picking it up is similar IMO. Every new radar from Bel/Escort is going to keep getting better obviously but my point was radars can only take you so far...

I understand that putting the radar on an angle hurts the performance slightly...for ME it's the best place to put the radar for looks and I've been doing so for 9 years with no performance issues.

I think you missed the overall point of the post saying you can't go wrong with any of the top radars from Escort/Bel (are they still the same company?) and Jammers from Blinder / LI.

People's posts usually have some of their own opinion in them...

BTW I don't beleive everything I read from radarroy considering I just found out who he was from your post...but thanks! Do you own an LI & STi?

In the Carolina's, I've observed mostly K and Ka band with local and state police. I drive close to 25K miles a year across the Carolina's and I've only once been tagged with Laser. Is there something I'm missing about NC and TX?

I live in North Carolina and had a Laser Interceptor, V1, and Bel STI-R+ installed in my previous car, a 2010 Audi S4. My LI's were useful exactly 2 times in the 2+ years they were installed, and both times I saw the cop before he actually hit me with laser. Laser is just not used much in most parts of the state.

When I bought the M3 I only re-installed the STI-R+ and V1. Holding off on the LI's for a while to see what develops.

Most cops use lasers... so unless you have shifters you are f@cked either way. Once you get a warning the cop already has a reading.

I have to somewhat disagree. While laser is on the rise, I still think that radar far outnumbers laser. However, in your area, the cops may be using laser more. So, while you may be correct for your area, this may not be the case for all areas. Try to find out what the cops use in your neighborhood if you want to concentrate on laser or radar.

Second, my V1 has saved me countless times with laser scatter warnings. However, this is not something to be relied upon. Most times when I get a V1 laser warning it is indeed, too late. Still, it is not a foregone conclusion that when you get a warning you're already toast and I would not want to lose the V1s excellent laser warning performance.

Anyway, get a jammer. While the Blinder 905 is the new kid on the block, I still prefer the Laser Interceptor as tests have shown that it is still superior in performance.